Feeding device for ironing machines



arch 8, 1938. F. J. COUCH FEEDING DEVICE FOR IRONING MACHINES Filed Oct.21, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO R N YS 'INVENTOR B FORREST J. COUC March8, 1938. J COUCH 2,110,437

FEEDING DEVICE FOR IRONING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed 001;. 21,1956 k INVENTOR FORREST J. COUCH March 8, 1938.

F: J. COUCH FEEDING DEVICE FOR IRONING MACHINES.

3 Sheets-Sheet5 H c U o c M TN J ET VS E R m F 1 w 2 O 0. d e l i FPatented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Forrest J. Couch,

The American Laundry Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Machinery Company,

Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 21,

21 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for feeding andspreading flat fabric articles prior to ironing the same.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide a plurality ofendless belts or ribbons arranged in side by side relationship extendingin the same general direction to form a feeding lane for a flat articleand in which belts on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line ofthe lane diverge outwardly in a novel manner so as to smooth outwrinkles in the article as it passes along the lane.

Another object of my invention'is to provide feeding lanes forpresenting a plurality of workpieces simultaneously to a pair of ironingmembers of considerable extent. More particularly, fiatwork ironers areoften provided with coacting roll and chest ironing members ofconsiderable width and an object of the present invention is to providemeans for feeding a plurality of articles simultaneously to such ironingmembers across the width of the machine. For instance, a sheet and atowel might be fed simultaneously or a plurality of towels, napkins orother fiat articles might be fed simultaneously to the ironing members.To this-end my invention provides a plurality of feeding lanes adaptedto simultaneously feed and spread flat fabric articles and includingunitary drive means for the feeding belts or ribbons and a novelarrangement of partition means between adjacent lanes to prevent theincorrect feeding of workpieces.

Another novel feature of my invention is found in the supporting andguiding means for the endless belts which move the articles along thefeeding lanes.

Another object of my invention is the provision in apparatus comprisinga plurality of endless belts arranged side by side and extending in thesame general direction to provide a feeding lane for fiat fabricarticles, of novel belt tightening means by which the tension of aplurality of belts may be ,equally varied with a minimum of equipmentand effort.

Another novel feature of my invention is the provision in apparatuscomprising coacting lower and upper sets of continuous feeding belts inwhich the lower set of belts is positively driven and the upper set ofbelts is frictionally driven by contact with the lower ones, of novelmeans for suspending the upper belts above the lower ones, novel meansfor varying the tension of the upper set of belts, and novel means forproviding the frictional driving engagement between the two sets ofbelts.

1936, Serial No. 106,846 (Cl. 271-) Other novel features reside in thearrangement of stripper fingers connected with each set of belts andmeans for quickly adjusting the feeding device in various positionsrelative to the coacting ironing members to which the articles are fed.

All of the above objects and novel features will be more clearly pointedout in the specification and illustrated in the drawings including thenovel structural details by which my purposes are achieved. Theessential features of my invention will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of my novel feeding and spreadingdevice attached to the feeding end of an ironing machine, the upperportion of the upper ribbons being broken away at the right-hand end toexpose the riding plate mechanism; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the samedevice with the upper ribbon assembly removed and with the belts of thelower ribbon assembly broken away at the left end of the device to showthe belt guide plates; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of thedevice; Fig. 4 is a still further enlarged sectional view taken on theline 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFigs. 1 and 4; while Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFigs. 2 and 4.

I have illustrated my feeding device as arranged to feed fiat fabricarticles to an ironing machine of a well-known type comprising a base I0on which are supported a chest II and a coacting ironing roll I2.Usually in such machines there is a plurality of such coacting ironingmembers which are driven by a train of gears indicated generally at 13.

On brackets Illa connected with the ironing machine base are mountedbrackets 14 and I5 for supporting the feeding and spreading device.Preferably these two brackets are provided with slotted openings Idawhere they are connected to the brackets Illa so as to provide avertical adjustment, the purpose of which will be later described.

The framework for the lower belt assembly It comprises a tube I'Irigidly secured to the brackets l4 and I5 and extending entirely acrossthe feeding. device toward the rear end thereof. Bearing brackets itsupported by tube H in turn rotatably carry the shaft [9 to which arekeyed the rear belt supporting pulleys 20. Another tube 2| extendingentirely across the feeding device near the front end thereof isslidably mounted on brackets l4 and i5 for free movement from front torear thereof. Tube 2| carries brackets 22 1' and. 2212 in which isrotatably mounted the .the sides of the belts li pulley .2! and tube IIalso carries brackets Ila and 28b which .rotatably carrythe beltsupporting pulley Ii.

Means is provided for rotating shaft ll so as to positively drive thelower set of belts. This drive means comprises a sprocket 2i rigid withshaft 9 and connected by chain II with sprocket 2i which'in turn isconnected by a train of gears 21 with the driving mechanism of theironing machine. -An idler sprocket 28 supported; by. member 2i fromtube l'l provides tightening means for chain 25..

Novel means is tance between tubes l1 and II front belt and the frontbelt supporting pulleys 22 and 23. To this end a plurality of togglesare connected between tubes l1 and II on oneside of the machine andanother set of similar toggles II is provided on the other side of themachine. Each set of toggles breaks outwardly. and the knuckles oftheleft-hand set are connected by a link 30a with a threaded bar 30b,toggles II are connected by a'link lid with a threaded bar ilb. Anadjusting nut 32 having right and left-hand threaded connections withbars 30b and ilb respectively controls movement of the links 300 and ilatoward or away from each other coincidentally when the nut 32 isrotated. It is thus possible to simultaneouslymove toggles 3i and IIeither toward a more or less straightened posltionto vary the spanbetween tubes l1 and .II and to thus equally vary the tension on thelower set of belts. Springs 33 connected between tubes l1 and 2| biasthe tubes away from each other so that they follow. the togglemovementalined in exact parallelism.

The belts ii are preferably of .truncated V-sec tion as shown. It isdesirable to support these belts beneath the articles fed and also tosupport to prevent a turning or twisting thereof due to the spreadingaction of the apparatus. To this end a plate 10 is provided beneath eachhalf-lane of belts li, these plates having truncated V-grooves thereincorresponding to the outer side and bottom faces of belts Ii as bestshown in Figs. 5 and 6. These plates are preferably welded to supportingplates 1| therebeneath and the adjacent plate sections of two lanes areconnected together by a plate 12 bolted to the plates Ill of each laneand provided with a rib 12a which forms a partition between adjacentlanes. The partitions 12a prevent thefeeding of an article partly on onelane and partly on another. To the front and rear of each plate 12filler blocks 13 are welded. At the rear end of the plates bolts 14secure the plates and filler blocks together. At the front end of theplates bolts 15 secure the plates and filler blocks together and at thesame time secure the belt guide plate assembly to brackets Ii which arerigidly connected with tube 2i. The rear end of to provide a bearingsurface.

A plurality of feeding lanes A, B and C respectively are provided inside by side arrangement so as to simultaneously feed a plurality ofarticles to the ironing members ii and i2. As illustrated theselanes areof equal width and identical construction and therefore one only will bedescribed. It will. be understood, however, that the lanes need not beof the same width nor extactly the sameconstruction. For instance, onelane might be provided much wider or nilprovided for varying the dissoas to vary the span between the rear belt supporting. pulley whiletheknuckles of 7 "2,110,487 Y v rower than the others or varying widthsmight trated by be provided de 7 upon the articles which it was intendedto feed.

Each of the lanes then'comprisea a set of belts Ii riding insuitable'grooves in pulleys Hand at the front end of the apparatus andin pulley 2.,

as to provide for spreading of a workpiece without sufllcient stretchingthereof to cause lateral wrinkles. The principle involved is bestillusreference to belts- I ib, lie and lid of lane, A. "Thesebelts'diverge outwardly toward opposite sides of the lane from thereceiving toward the delivery. end .thereof. The belts lib diverge fromthe center line at an angle considered sumcient to smooth out thewrinkles usually encountered in the central portion of the workpiece.The belts lic farther removed from the center line diverge therefrom ata slightly greater angle than the belts lib. They are thus enabled totake care of excess material spread laterally by the belts lib and tocause an additional spreading action as to any portions of the workpiecelying between the belts lib and lic. In a similar manner the belts liddiverge from the center line at a greater angle than the belts lic, thusprogressively carrying the excess material being spread laterallyfarther and farther toward the sides of the feedinglane. It is obviousthat this progressive divergence of the belts farther and farther fromthe center line of the lane maybe continued as far toward the sidesthereof as desired. Intact the entire lane might be constructed in thismanner. However, I find that when a certain point is reached the beltslie may thereafter be substantially parallel to the outermost belts ofthe series lib, lic, lid. Preferably but not necessarily one or morebelts are provided adjacent the longitudinal center line of the lanesubstantially parallel thereto. To this end I have provided the twobelts lia parallel to the center line of the lane and on opposite sidesthereof the central portion of the'fabric while the belts to either sidethereof provide the spreading action.

The upper set of belts 34 is adapted to ride upon the belts ii infrictional contact therewith or apluralityoflanuof with an articlecarried thereby so that the upper feeding apparatus and above it. Foreach of the stantially above the feeding lanes there is provided abracket ii carried by the channel 31 and this bracket in turn pivotallysupports a bracket 39,- the position of which is adjustable by means ofset screw engaging a portion 38a of bracket 88. The opposite end ofbracket 3! supports a hook I which engages a pin 42 on a bar iiextending sublongitudinal center line of the feeding lane. At itsforward end bar ii supports a block 44 tatably supporting the beltpulleys 4i and 41. The rod Ii is bent as shown in Fig. 1 so as tosupport the pulleys belts. An adiustihg screw 48 passing through block44 and engaging a stop member 49 fixed on bar 43 adjusts the position ofbar 48 so as to simultaneously vary the tension of all of the belts 34.At the rear end of rod 43 is a block ii which which carries a rod ii forro- 4i and" at right angles to their supports a rod 5| about which belts34 pass at the is bent as shown to provide a belt support at right angleto the belts and the belts 34 extend rearwardly of belts l6. It will benoted that belts 34 are endless and preferably fiat as shown. Forsupporting the upper run of belts 34 a bar 52 is supported in brackets53 from channel 31 and is provided with pins 52a to guide the belts.

Novel means is provided to cause the lower run of belts 34 to ride uponthe belts I6 to give sufficient frictional contact therewith for thefeeding and spreading operation and to prevent rolling or balling up ofthe article fed. In the form shown plates 54, 55 and 56 are provided foreach halflane spaced from front to rear thereof. The plates are providedat their forward edges with brackets 54a, 55a and 56a, respectively.Links 51 and pins 58 pivotally connect brackets 56a and 55a. Links 59and pin 60 pivotally connect brackets 55a and 54a. Lateral bracing isprovided at 6|. Links 62 pivotally connect bracket 54a with a bracket 63rigidly mounted on bar 43. Thus the series of plates is supported in afreely floating position upon the lower run of belts 34 with horizontalmovement substantially prevented but providing a limited verticalmovement of each plate independently of the other plates. Thisaccommodates various thicknesses as fabric passes through the apparatus.

Stripper fingers are provided associated with each set of belts at therear end thereof. Associated with the lower belts are the stripperfingers 64 which ride in grooves of pulley 20 between the belts IS. Therear end of the fingers rest upon the chest ll while the forward end ofthe fingers is connected in a novel manner with the frame supporting thelower belt assembly. The novel arrangement shown comprises a spring clip65 of which one is preferably provided individual toeach finger. Theseclips are supported in a channel-shaped member 66 extending.transversely of the apparatus and may be pressed beneath a clip 61' soas to releasably hold each finger 64 in place. This makes thereplacement of individual fingers easy.

The upper set of stripper fingers 68 are carried by the rod andpreferably the fingers are mounted at various angles to the rod 5| asshown in Fig. 4 so that the free ends thereof form a line substantiallyparallel with the fingers 64.

It will be obvious from the manner of suspension of the upper beltsupporting framework that by varying the setting of screws 40 the upperbelts may be caused to ride at adjusted distances from belts l6 and theclearance between fingers 68 and 64 may be controlled.

For the purpose of controlling the relative position between the feedingand spreading device and the ironing members II and I2, notches H30, and18b are provided in the bearing brackets i8 which support the shaft l9at the rear end of the lower belt assembly. Either of these notches mayengage one or more brackets 69 connected with chest II and the necessarymovement of brackets l4 and I5 are provided by the slotted openings Maand l5a as previously described. With the notches l8a engaged on thebrackets 69 as shown' in.Fig. 4 a low feed is provided, whereas withnotches l8b engaged a high feed is provided.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality ofpositively driven endless belts on said frame extending from end to endthereof in the same general direction and having work engaging surfacesthroughout their length, there being a group of said belts on each sideof the longitudinal center line of said frame diverging outwardly fromsaid center line towards the opposite sides of the frame, and a belt ineach group farther from said center line diverging therefrom at agreater angle than another belt in said group nearer said center line.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality ofpositively driven endless belts on said frame extending from end to endthereof in the same general direction and having work engaging surfacesthroughout their length, there being a group of said belts on eachsideof the longitudinal center line of said frame diverging outwardlyfrom said center line towards the opposite sides of the frame, and therebeing belts in each group diverging from the center line at varyingangles, said angles becoming progressively larger for each belt in aseries extending from the center line toward each side of the frame.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality ofpositively driven endless belts on said frame extending from end to endthereof in the same general direction and having work engaging surfacesthroughout their length, there being a group of said belts on each sideof the longitudinal center line of said frame diverging outwardly fromsaid center line towards the opposite sides of the frame, there being aseries of belts in each group, the belts in each series progressivelydiverging, each at a greater angle from the center line than the beltnearer the center in the series, and belts in each group laterallyoutside of each series and substantially parallel to the outermost beltof the series.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality ofpositively driven endless belts on said frame extending from end to endthereof in the same general direction and having work engaging surfacesthroughout their length, there being at least one belt extendingadjacent and substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line ofsaid frame, there being a group of said belts on each side of saidcenter line and diverging outwardly therefrom towards the opposite sidesof said frame, and there being belts in each group diverging from thecenter line at varying angles, said angles becoming progressively largerfor each belt in a series extending from the center toward each side ofthe frame.

5. Apparatus of'the class described comprising a frame, a plurality ofpositively driven endless belts on said frame extending side by sidefrom end to end thereof in the same general direction and havingsubstantially continuous work engaging surfaces throughout their length,there being a group of said belts on each side of the longitudinalcenter line of said frame diverging outwardly from said center linetowards the opposite sides of the frame, there being a series of beltsin each group, the belts in each series progressively diverging each ata greater angle from the center line than the belt nearer the center inthe series, and a self-contained belt unit including endless idler beltshaving substantially continuous work engaging surfaces throughout theirlength and diverging to coact with said first named belts and heldfirmly thereagainst in a mannerto be driven by frict onal contacttherewith, whereby the two sets of belts grip work passing therebetweento advance the work while straightening the same laterally withoutstretching.

9 posite sides of the frame,

unit including endless idler belts having substantially continuous workengaging surfaces 6; Apparatus ing a plurality of work-feeding lanesarranged side by side, each lane comprising a plurality of positivelydriven end ess belts lyingin'a common plane in two groups one on eachside of the longitudinal cen er line of the lane, the belts of each"group diverging from th'e center line of the lane in the direction ofdrive toward the opposite sides of driving relation to the and extendingthe full width of the machine,

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality ofwork-feeding lanes arranged side by side, each lane comprising aplurality of posi- 5 tively driven endless belts lying in a common planein two groups one on each side -of .the

longitudinal center line of the lane, the beltsflof each group divergingfrom the center line of the lane in the direction of drive towardtheopposite sides. of the lane, a self-contained belt unit for each lanesuperimposed on the first named belts, each unit including endless idlerbelts having continuous work engaging surfaces throughout their lengthand diverging to correspond with the divergence of the lower belts andresting upon the latter by gravity to be driven by frictional contacttherewith, and'partition means between adjacent lanes whereby to preventa workpiece being fed along portions of two different lanes.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality ofpositively driven endless belts on said frame extending side by sidefrom end to end thereof in the same general direction and havingsubstantiallyv continuous work engaging surfaces throughout theirlength, there being a group of said belts on each side of thelongitudinal center line of said frame diverging outwardly from saidcenter line towards the opa self-contained belt throughout their lengthand diverging, to correspond with said first named belts and held 5firmly thereagainst in a manner to bedriven by frictional contacttherewith, whereby the two sets of belts to advance the, same laterallywork while straightening the without stretching, and guide meanssupporting said positively driven belts on the face thereof opposite thework engaging face,

saidguide means engaging the side'edges of the belts wherebyto preventtwisting of said belts during a work-feeding operation. i

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising aplurality of endlessbelts arranged side by side and extending in the same general directionin a manner to form'a feeding lane for a -wide article, belt supportingmeans including pulleys at each end of said lane, a plurality of togglesoperatively connected with said belt supporting means and controllingthe distance between said pulleys, and means for simultaneouslystraightening or breaking said toggles equally.

10. Apparatus of the class described compris- .ing a plurality of lanesarranged side: by side for simultaneously'feeding a plurality of work-.pieces, each lane comprising a plurality of end- I lessl beltsextending side general direction, belt supporting pulleys at op- .positeends of. the belts ofeach lane, rigid pulley by side in the samesupportingmeans-extending across a plurality of said lanes, one adjacenteach set of end pulleys,

a' plurality of toggles operatively connected with u said pulley suppoting means andcontrolling the V i a,n'o,ssv I, 1 of the class describedcomprisrand in toggle the lane, and a shaft in belts of all of saidlanes above the first "first named set tending in the same rest thereonby gravityto grip work passing' therebetween I tact therewith,

distance between them, and means for simultaneously moving said togglesin toggle-straightenreaking directions. r

11. In apparatus of the class described having a frame supporting aplurality of positivelydriven endless beltsarranged side by side andextending in the same general direction in a manner to form a feedinglane for a flat article, said apparatus also including a second frameframe and carrying a plurality belts adapted to rest upon the of beltsto be driven by frictherewith, vertically adjustable of endless idlertional, contact means for suspending said second named frame above saidfirst named frame.

iii. In apparatus of the class described having 7 a: frame supporting aplurality of positively driven endless belts arranged side by side andexgeneral direction in a manner to form ,a feeding lane for a fiatarticle, said apparatus also including a second frame above the firstframe andcarrying a, plurality of endless idler belts adapted to restupon the first named set of belts to be driven by frictional contacttherewith, each of said frames having belt supporting members at thereceiving and delivery ends thereof, stripper fingers on each frameextending outwardly beyond said delivery end belt supporting members,and means for adjusting the vertical distance between the delivery endsof said frames, whereby to adjust the clearance between said stripperfingers.

13. In apparatus of the class described having a frame supporting aplurality of positively driven endless belts arranged side by side andextending in the same general direction in a manner to form a feedinglane for a fiat article, said belts diverging outwardly from thelongitudinal center line of said lane towardthe opposite sides thereof,said apparatus also including a second frame above the first frame andof belts and adapted to be driven by frictional contact therewith, abelt supporting member at the delivery end of said second frameextending substantially normal to the supported belts, and stripperfingers depending from said member at varying angularities in a mannerto cause the free ends of said stripper fingers to lie in a line normalto the center line of said lane.

14. In apparatus of the class described having a. frame supporting aplurality of positively driven endless belts arranged side by side andextending in the same general direction in a manner to form a feedinglane for a fiat article, said spond with said first set apparatus alsoincluding a second frame above 15. In apparatus. of the class describedhaving a frame supportinga plurality of positively driven endless beltsarranged side by side and extending in the same, general direction in amanner to form afeeding lane for a fiat article, saidapparatus'also'includlng a second frame above the first frame andcarrying a plurality of endless idler belts adapted to rest upon thefirst named set of belts to be driven by frictional cona plate adaptedto rest upon the carrying a plu-' rality of endless idler beltsdiverging to corre-- a frame supporting a plurality of positively drivenendless belts arranged side by side and extending in the same generaldirection in a manner to form a feeding lane for a fiat article, saidapparatus also including a second frame above the first frame andcarrying a plurality of endless idler belts adapted to rest upon thefirst named set of belts to be driven by frictionalincludingasecondframeabovesaid contact therewith, a plurality of platesadapted to rest upon the upper face of the lower run of said idlerbelts, and means for mounting said plates substantially preventinghorizontal movement thereof but permitting limited vertical movementthereof.

17. In apparatus pf the class described having a frame supporting aplurality of positively driven endless belts arranged side by side andextending in the same generaldirection in a manner to, form a feedinglane for a fiat article, said apparatus also including a second frameabove the first frame and carrying a plurality of endless idler beltsadapted to rest upon the first named set of belts to be driven byfrictional contact therewith, a plurality of plates adapted to rest uponthe upper face of the lower run of said idler belts in line from thereceiving end toward the delivery end of said belts, and means formounting said plates substantially prevent ing horizontal movementthereof while providingfor limited vertical movement of one platesubstantially independent of vertical movement of another plate.

18. In apparatus of the class described for feeding articles betweenironing members of an ironing machine and having a frame supporting aplurality of positively driven endless belts arranged side by side andextending in the same general direction in a manner to form a feedinglane for a fiat fabric article, said apparatus also first frame andcarrying a plurality of endless idler belts adapted to rest uponthefirst named set of belts to be driven by frictional contacttherewith, ad

justable support means on said ironing machine forsupporting both ofsaid frames, and positioning members on said named frame for holdingsaid frames ineither of a plurality of positions relative to saidironing members for the presentation of articles thereto. 1

19. In apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality ofendless belts for feeding fiat fabric articles to an ironing machine andhaving a belt supporting pulley at the machine end of said belts, astripper finger extending beyond said pulley on the delivery sidethereof, and clip means for securing said stripper finger to saidapparatus.

20. In apparatus of the class described comprising a frame supporting aplurality of endless belts for feeding fiat fabric articles to anironing machine and having belt supporting pulley means at the machineend of said belts, stripper fingers extending across said pulley means,a spring clip on each finger on the end thereof toward the receiving endof said belts, and means on said frame for removably holding said clips.

21. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality ofpositively driven endless belts on said frame extending from end to endthereof in the same general direction and; having work engaging surfacesthroughout their length, there being two groups of said belts eachsymmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center lineof said frame and diverging outwardly from said center lineprogressively along their length, one of said groups having pairs ofbelts diverging at progressively greater angles, said angles having acommon apex, and the other of said groups having pairs of beltsdiverging at the same angle, the apexes of the angles of saidlast namedgroup of belts lying progressively farther from a given point. I

J. COUCH.

machine and said first

